Welegedara suffers hamstring tear

Chanaka Welegedara will not bowl again in the Boxing Day Test and is unlikely to recover in time for the third Test, after initial scans revealed a tear in his right hamstring. Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene is unable to keep wickets for the remainder of the Test, having fractured his right thumb while batting the previous day, but the Sri Lanka management are hopeful he will bat in the second innings. Kumar Sangakkara has taken the gloves in his stead.

In addition, scans on Thursday revealed Nuwan Kulasekara was suffering from a hairline fracture to a rib, which was originally thought to be nothing more than bruising. He suffered the injury when he took a blow to the ribs on the final day in Hobart, and was left out of the second Test when he was unable to bowl comfortably in the nets, in the lead-up to the match. Sri Lanka are hopeful that both Kulasekara and Jayawardene will be available for the Sydney Test which begins on January 3rd, but their condition will be reassessed closer to the start of that Test.

Having opened the bowling for Sri Lanka on the second morning, Welegedara was halfway through his fourth over, when he pulled up during his approach to the crease. He bent down to stretch his right hamstring, and appeared to be in discomfort as he left the field. Shaminda Eranga completed his over. Welegedara will undergo another scan on Friday to confirm the extent of the damage, but the situation does not look promising, batting coach Marvan Atapattu said after play on day two.

Welegedara has had an injury-plagued year, having missed eight months of Test cricket with two separate injuries. He strained his groin in March during the home series against England and though he had recovered from that by June, he tore a shoulder muscle as Sri Lanka prepared to play Pakistan later in the month. The Hobart Test against Australia was his first taste of competitive cricket since March, as his recovery period did not coincide with Sri Lanka's domestic season.

He is regarded as the leader of Sri Lanka's pace attack, and his presence was missed on day two, when Australia amassed a lead nearing 300, with two wickets still intact. Welegedara had been the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the first Test in Hobart.

The loss of Jayawardene may have also hurt Sri Lanka, with two clear-cut chances having been missed by Sangakkara behind the stumps. Shane Watson was spilled late on day one as Sangakkara dived to his right, and a difficult stumping chance off Michael Clarke also went begging in the first session on day two. Clarke and Watson made 106 and 83 respectively, and were involved in a 196-run partnership that took Australia to a commanding position from 117 for 3.

Last year Mahroof was seleceted and was in the playing 11 in the VB series due to the leading socrer and some wickets. As per the expectation he performed well and was the second leading wicket taker of the tournament. But sadly was left out after the series for no reasons. Again he s doing well with the bat in the on going domestic circuit. Pls get him to the squad for both test and odi. would be vital for t20 as well.

Test-is-the-best
on December 28, 2012, 14:56 GMT

The decision of opting Prassana J as wicket keeper and Sangakkara as a batsmen reaped twofold benefits for Sri Lanka in the last 3-4 years. Absence of Prasanna J was so expensive as Sangakkara drop few sharp chances given by the Australian middle order. I really backs a good wicket keeper than batsmen who can keep for test matches. Its really worth is somebody can hold these sharp chances and score 30-40 than making a 50-60 and dropping sharp chances. To this end Chandimal is not the potential replacement for Prasanna J. He should be included as No 3 or 4 for the next test test match. Chance should be given to a full time wicket keeper like Kusal Janith for the next test match.I would prefer if Mahela can make his way to Chandimal in the 3rd test.

Shaggy076
on December 28, 2012, 9:12 GMT

makdunya786 - I could see a case of replacing Welegedera as it was a soft tissue injury as for the other two were created through being beaten by the bowler and as such these types of injury should never allow a replacement. Johnson deserved both there wickets in the second innings through his brilliant bowling causing injury.

Cpt.Meanster
on December 28, 2012, 8:39 GMT

I think the Sri Lankans got intimidated by the Aussie conditions. They are falling like nine pins. It's sad but the reality can be often harsh. Asian teams simply DON'T know how to play in these conditions.

makdunya786
on December 28, 2012, 5:52 GMT

ICC should make amendment in the playing eleven rule that if any of the player gets injured and cannot be able to play so that player must get replaced by 12th man. in this scenario 3 of the players got badly injured which also made adverse impact on the team's performance. This rule can be implemented for TEST and ODI matches.

righthandbat
on December 28, 2012, 5:21 GMT

Sri Lanka might as well fly over anyone who seems to be promising for a baptism of fire. They may just uncover a few jewels. Realistically only Mathews and Herath deserve selection from the current crop for the next test, Dilshan at a stretch.

on December 28, 2012, 1:41 GMT

I see a lot of similarities between S L and India (apart from the spate of Injuries, during tours). Both have class batsmen. And, mediocre attack. The average nature of the attack can be compensated by the classy batsmen. But they don't do it. They get out for reckless shots. What a pity.

DocBindra
on December 27, 2012, 22:45 GMT

Avg. bowling squad just got worse...now only if the 4 main batsman with a combined age of 140+ could deliver...

on December 27, 2012, 17:00 GMT

Our former fielding greatness is eluding us... that's the prime reason we are loosing matches these days i'm afraid.

Last year Mahroof was seleceted and was in the playing 11 in the VB series due to the leading socrer and some wickets. As per the expectation he performed well and was the second leading wicket taker of the tournament. But sadly was left out after the series for no reasons. Again he s doing well with the bat in the on going domestic circuit. Pls get him to the squad for both test and odi. would be vital for t20 as well.

Test-is-the-best
on December 28, 2012, 14:56 GMT

The decision of opting Prassana J as wicket keeper and Sangakkara as a batsmen reaped twofold benefits for Sri Lanka in the last 3-4 years. Absence of Prasanna J was so expensive as Sangakkara drop few sharp chances given by the Australian middle order. I really backs a good wicket keeper than batsmen who can keep for test matches. Its really worth is somebody can hold these sharp chances and score 30-40 than making a 50-60 and dropping sharp chances. To this end Chandimal is not the potential replacement for Prasanna J. He should be included as No 3 or 4 for the next test test match. Chance should be given to a full time wicket keeper like Kusal Janith for the next test match.I would prefer if Mahela can make his way to Chandimal in the 3rd test.

Shaggy076
on December 28, 2012, 9:12 GMT

makdunya786 - I could see a case of replacing Welegedera as it was a soft tissue injury as for the other two were created through being beaten by the bowler and as such these types of injury should never allow a replacement. Johnson deserved both there wickets in the second innings through his brilliant bowling causing injury.

Cpt.Meanster
on December 28, 2012, 8:39 GMT

I think the Sri Lankans got intimidated by the Aussie conditions. They are falling like nine pins. It's sad but the reality can be often harsh. Asian teams simply DON'T know how to play in these conditions.

makdunya786
on December 28, 2012, 5:52 GMT

ICC should make amendment in the playing eleven rule that if any of the player gets injured and cannot be able to play so that player must get replaced by 12th man. in this scenario 3 of the players got badly injured which also made adverse impact on the team's performance. This rule can be implemented for TEST and ODI matches.

righthandbat
on December 28, 2012, 5:21 GMT

Sri Lanka might as well fly over anyone who seems to be promising for a baptism of fire. They may just uncover a few jewels. Realistically only Mathews and Herath deserve selection from the current crop for the next test, Dilshan at a stretch.

on December 28, 2012, 1:41 GMT

I see a lot of similarities between S L and India (apart from the spate of Injuries, during tours). Both have class batsmen. And, mediocre attack. The average nature of the attack can be compensated by the classy batsmen. But they don't do it. They get out for reckless shots. What a pity.

DocBindra
on December 27, 2012, 22:45 GMT

Avg. bowling squad just got worse...now only if the 4 main batsman with a combined age of 140+ could deliver...

on December 27, 2012, 17:00 GMT

Our former fielding greatness is eluding us... that's the prime reason we are loosing matches these days i'm afraid.

Feel bad for Sri Lanka. Injury galore... Kula, Prasanna, and now Welegedera! Why these things have to come in a 'procession' ? Reminds me of India's plight in England, in their last series!

on December 27, 2012, 14:50 GMT

sri lanken cricket is being in jeopardy due to failed key batsmen.

Vijendran
on December 27, 2012, 12:39 GMT

what happened to dilhara fernando? yes he will go for runs, but as we saw in the south africa he has the extra pace and bounce needed to get top order players from sides like australia cheaply. There is no point in having an attack of containing bowlers unless you at least have one spearhead quick...

sohaibahmad
on December 27, 2012, 12:36 GMT

who cares... an ordinary bowler in an ordinary side....

on December 27, 2012, 11:28 GMT

This has to be the perfect series for Australia. They should win all three games, comfortably, they have started using Hughes at #3, Watson at #4 and the Aussie selectors may have found another decent bowler in Jackson Bird.

StarsFan
on December 27, 2012, 11:25 GMT

As an SL fan I'm really despointed by the shot selection from MJ, Thilan and Angelo. MJ got out to a ball that was outside the line of off and was swinging away before it pitched. As for Angelo the ball that got him out was miles outside off. After the amount of cricket they have played you'd expect them to know where their off stumps are! As for Thilan, what was he thinking!
IMHO the two best batsmen I saw were Sanga and Clarke. And guess what, both of them left well outside the off stump and ducked the short ball. Clearly these where amongst the few who realised that they where playing a 5 day game and not T20!

on December 27, 2012, 10:37 GMT

There is something wrong playing in Australia , some body gets injured and unable to complete full five days.

RoJayao
on December 27, 2012, 10:08 GMT

These injuries are just getting to ridiculous levels, for all teams. For every epidemic there's a source contagion, for cricket, it's called T20!!

Mazharul
on December 27, 2012, 10:06 GMT

Bring tissera perera and ajantha mendis in the squad for Welagedara and Prasanna Jayawardena . As Chandimal in the squad he should play next test. in bowling Perera, Eranga, mendis and herath...Australia always faces trouble against mendis. As perera is playing in Australia, he can add value.....

St.John
on December 27, 2012, 8:06 GMT

Its going to be 2 /0 for Oz. Welegedera's absense doesnt change a thing. None of SL's pacies can run through Oz, and its not as though Prassana J was going to sway anything Sangakarra's awful keeping notwithstanding. Poor Herath..all those catches going abegging. SL's tail is useless & Oz should wrap it up after SL's so called top order are back in the pavillion.

gnanzcupid
on December 27, 2012, 7:07 GMT

Ahhh. Feel for the two having themselves injured. But i feel this will be used as a lame ''otherwise we would have won the match'' excuse by the lankan fans for losing the match.

on December 27, 2012, 6:30 GMT

At the rate these players are getting injured, what's the chances of you making your test debut Andrew?

Klgn
on December 27, 2012, 5:32 GMT

It seems, Srilankans are not giving their best shot against Aussies. Whatever the reasons, might be internal problem, example, problem with captain. They are there to loose for sure. Nowadays, one sided game because of internal matter that worsen this game's classic essence. Looks like Australia should make call to play with Scotland or Zimbabwe!!

asirigamage
on December 27, 2012, 4:49 GMT

Maharoof Scores 101*,66*,21 & 84 in his last four innings in current sri lanka domestic one day compitition
bring him to the odi series as wel

Htc-Baseball
on December 27, 2012, 3:46 GMT

Give him rest, hope he gets fully fit for the all important two match KFC t20 series

Batman111
on December 27, 2012, 1:29 GMT

Get Maharoof and Chandimal for Injured Welagedara and Prasanna Jayawardena for the 3rd test.. Maharoof will be a handy bowler in Australian wickets and Chandimal could do the wicket keeping and score some useful runs...

ameen85
on December 27, 2012, 5:24 GMT

Last year Mahroof was seleceted and was in the playing 11 in the VB series due to the leading socrer and some wickets. As per the expectation he performed well and was the second leading wicket taker of the tournament. But sadly was left out after the series for no reasons. Again he s doing well with the bat in the on going domestic circuit. Pls get him to the squad for both test and odi. would be vital for t20 as well.

Batman111
on December 27, 2012, 1:29 GMT

Get Maharoof and Chandimal for Injured Welagedara and Prasanna Jayawardena for the 3rd test.. Maharoof will be a handy bowler in Australian wickets and Chandimal could do the wicket keeping and score some useful runs...

Htc-Baseball
on December 27, 2012, 3:46 GMT

Give him rest, hope he gets fully fit for the all important two match KFC t20 series

asirigamage
on December 27, 2012, 4:49 GMT

Maharoof Scores 101*,66*,21 & 84 in his last four innings in current sri lanka domestic one day compitition
bring him to the odi series as wel

Klgn
on December 27, 2012, 5:32 GMT

It seems, Srilankans are not giving their best shot against Aussies. Whatever the reasons, might be internal problem, example, problem with captain. They are there to loose for sure. Nowadays, one sided game because of internal matter that worsen this game's classic essence. Looks like Australia should make call to play with Scotland or Zimbabwe!!

on December 27, 2012, 6:30 GMT

At the rate these players are getting injured, what's the chances of you making your test debut Andrew?

gnanzcupid
on December 27, 2012, 7:07 GMT

Ahhh. Feel for the two having themselves injured. But i feel this will be used as a lame ''otherwise we would have won the match'' excuse by the lankan fans for losing the match.

St.John
on December 27, 2012, 8:06 GMT

Its going to be 2 /0 for Oz. Welegedera's absense doesnt change a thing. None of SL's pacies can run through Oz, and its not as though Prassana J was going to sway anything Sangakarra's awful keeping notwithstanding. Poor Herath..all those catches going abegging. SL's tail is useless & Oz should wrap it up after SL's so called top order are back in the pavillion.

Mazharul
on December 27, 2012, 10:06 GMT

Bring tissera perera and ajantha mendis in the squad for Welagedara and Prasanna Jayawardena . As Chandimal in the squad he should play next test. in bowling Perera, Eranga, mendis and herath...Australia always faces trouble against mendis. As perera is playing in Australia, he can add value.....

RoJayao
on December 27, 2012, 10:08 GMT

These injuries are just getting to ridiculous levels, for all teams. For every epidemic there's a source contagion, for cricket, it's called T20!!

on December 27, 2012, 10:37 GMT

There is something wrong playing in Australia , some body gets injured and unable to complete full five days.